Edwin Armstrong Tower
February 20, 2026•1,183 words
Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Proposal
Mount Washington Summit, New Hampshire
Prepared by: dickie
Date: February 2026
Submitted to: Mount Washington Commission
Executive Summary
This proposal recommends the preservation, documentation, and adaptive reuse of the Edwin Howard Armstrong radio tower site on Mount Washington summit. The Armstrong tower represents a historically significant telecommunications structure associated with early high-altitude radio transmission research and the development of frequency modulation (FM) radio.
Recent summit telecommunications planning discussions, including structural assessments and consideration of antenna relocation from aging infrastructure, create an opportunity to formally preserve and potentially reuse this historically significant tower site.
Preservation of the Armstrong tower will protect an important telecommunications landmark while maintaining flexibility for future infrastructure planning consistent with the Mount Washington Commission’s stewardship responsibilities.
Historical Significance
Edwin Howard Armstrong and the Development of FM Radio
Edwin Howard Armstrong (1890–1954) was one of the most important radio engineers in history. His invention of frequency modulation (FM) radio in 1933 dramatically improved signal clarity by eliminating static and electrical interference inherent in earlier amplitude modulation (AM) systems.
FM radio became the foundation of modern broadcast radio and remains in widespread use worldwide.
Mount Washington’s elevation of 6,288 feet made it an ideal location for high-altitude transmission experiments and propagation research.
Construction and Purpose of the Armstrong Tower
The Armstrong tower was constructed on Mount Washington summit to support radio transmission equipment used in experimental communications research.
Historical documentation indicates the tower was erected rapidly by Armstrong and his engineering team, reportedly completed in approximately eight working days. The structure demonstrated the feasibility of installing and operating telecommunications infrastructure under extreme environmental conditions.
The tower functioned as a support structure for transmission equipment used in radio propagation and communications experiments.
The structure remains physically present on the summit today.
Current Physical Status
The Armstrong tower site remains intact and identifiable within the summit communications area.
Observed characteristics include:
- Tower base structure intact
- Original mounting hardware present
- Located within established summit telecommunications infrastructure cluster
- Structure currently not in active operational use
The tower remains structurally preserved and suitable for documentation, stabilization, and potential adaptive reuse.
Relationship to Current Summit Telecommunications Planning
Yankee Building Structural Assessment (2019)
A structural assessment conducted in 2019 by HL Turner Group evaluated the Yankee Building and recommended removal of the structure due to structural condition concerns.
This recommendation reflects ongoing evaluation and modernization needs for summit telecommunications infrastructure.
February 2026 Telecommunications Planning Discussion
During Mount Washington Commission discussions in February 2026, representatives from Townsquare Media indicated that their current summit antenna support structure is aging and becoming operationally inadequate.
Townsquare Media representatives noted that modern transmission equipment requires significantly less space than previous generations of broadcast equipment. They expressed interest in relocating antenna infrastructure to alternative support structures while potentially relocating transmission equipment into the Yankee Building.
This discussion highlights the evolving nature of summit telecommunications infrastructure and the need to identify structurally appropriate support locations.
The Armstrong tower site represents a potential telecommunications support location due to:
- Its historic use as a radio transmission support structure
- Its location within the summit communications cluster
- Its structural independence from buildings requiring demolition or major repair
Preserving the Armstrong tower provides flexibility for future telecommunications planning while protecting its historical significance.
Cultural and Engineering Heritage Value
The Armstrong tower represents a rare surviving example of early telecommunications infrastructure associated with one of the most important engineering innovations of the twentieth century.
The structure represents:
- Early high-altitude telecommunications experimentation
- Association with Edwin Howard Armstrong, inventor of FM radio
- Mount Washington’s role in communications and scientific research history
Preserving the tower would protect a historically significant engineering structure and provide educational and interpretive opportunities.
Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Opportunities
Recommended preservation and reuse actions include:
Documentation
- Record structural condition and configuration
- Document tower dimensions and mounting hardware
- Preserve historical documentation of tower construction and use
Structural Evaluation
- Conduct formal structural inspection
- Evaluate structural integrity and stability
- Identify preservation or stabilization requirements
Historical Recognition
- Install interpretive signage describing Armstrong’s work
- Recognize tower as part of Mount Washington’s telecommunications history
- Pursue formal historic designation
Adaptive Reuse Evaluation
- Evaluate tower suitability for telecommunications support
- Preserve structure for potential operational reuse
- Incorporate tower preservation into long-term summit infrastructure planning
Historic Designation Pathways
Formal historic recognition of the Armstrong tower site would provide long-term preservation protection while recognizing Mount Washington’s role in telecommunications history.
New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places
This designation provides official state-level historic recognition and represents the most practical initial designation pathway.
Benefits include:
- Formal historic recognition
- Compatibility with continued infrastructure use
- Support for preservation planning
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places provides federal recognition of historically significant structures.
The Armstrong tower qualifies due to:
- Association with Edwin Howard Armstrong
- Engineering and telecommunications significance
Benefits include:
- Federal recognition
- Preservation planning support
- Compatibility with continued telecommunications use
National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark designation recognizes sites of exceptional national significance.
Because Armstrong’s invention of FM radio transformed global communications, structures associated with his work may qualify for this designation.
UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List (Long-Term Option)
Mount Washington summit represents an internationally recognized scientific research site.
Recognition of the Armstrong tower could contribute to long-term evaluation of the summit as a scientific and technological heritage site.
This represents a long-term strategic option.
Recommended Designation Strategy
A phased designation approach is recommended:
Phase 1: Structural documentation and evaluation
Phase 2: New Hampshire State Register nomination
Phase 3: National Register nomination
Phase 4: Evaluation for National Historic Landmark eligibility
This approach allows preservation recognition while maintaining infrastructure planning flexibility.
Alignment with Mount Washington Commission Responsibilities
Preserving the Armstrong tower supports the Mount Washington Commission’s responsibility to manage summit infrastructure while protecting historically significant resources.
Preservation provides:
- Protection of an important telecommunications heritage structure
- Flexibility for telecommunications planning
- Educational and interpretive opportunities
- Recognition of Mount Washington’s scientific and engineering history
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Mount Washington Commission formally recognize the Edwin Howard Armstrong tower as a historically significant telecommunications structure and incorporate its preservation into summit infrastructure planning.
Recommended actions:
- Conduct formal structural inspection and documentation
- Evaluate preservation and stabilization requirements
- Consider historic designation pathways
- Incorporate tower preservation into telecommunications infrastructure planning
- Evaluate suitability for adaptive reuse
The Edwin Howard Armstrong tower represents a historically significant telecommunications structure associated with the invention of FM radio and Mount Washington’s role in early communications research.
Preservation of this site protects an important engineering landmark while supporting responsible summit infrastructure planning and stewardship.
Sources
National Archives — Building a Radio Tower Atop Mount Washington
https://text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2019/02/12/building-a-radio-tower-atop-mount-washington/
HL Turner Group Inc. — Yankee Building Assessment Presentation (2019)
https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/9f0a0b61-9c66-4e7f-bc61-52c2c89cbb45/Yankee-Building-Presentation-06-21-19-DRAFT.pdf